Those with lower IQs are less consistent or able to predict the consequences of their actions, they said.

Personality traits such as trust, generosity, agreeableness and conscientiousness affected behaviour but in smaller measures, and only initially.

Researchers at the Universities of Bristol, Minnesota in the US and Heidelberg in Germany devised a series of strategy games to test cooperative behaviour in social and workplace ­situations.

Those with a higher IQ cooperated more and earned more money as part of the game.

MOST READ IN NEWS

Movie faves

Jurassic Park, Home Alone and Matrix top best 1990s film list

TAKING THE PIERS

Piers Morgan mocks Sam Smith for 'gender-fluid' identity claim

GEAR CHANGE

Top Gear season 27 - here's everything you need to know about the new series

GET THE ENGINE RUNNING

If the spark's gone, our experts will help jump-start your sex life

Top Picks

LUST LIST

Tiger prints, happy doormats and juicy blush are getting us into the spring mood

The study concluded that a society is cohesive if people are smart enough to be consistent in their strategies and to foresee the consequences of their actions.

Prof Eugenio Proto, of Bristol University, said: “People might naturally presume that people who are nice, conscientious and generous are automatically more cooperative.

“But intelligence is the primary condition for a socially cohesive, cooperative society. This scenario can be applied to the workplace A good heart and behaviour have an effect too but it’s transitory and small.”

US entrepreneur Sam Altman gives his advice on how to accomplish career goals